Chapter 6

Chapter 6: The Shuffle Selection Begins

The air was thick with tension. The clang of metal against metal echoed through the underground hall where over a hundred participants gathered. The gang’s leaders sat on an elevated platform, their sharp eyes scanning the room filled with young men and women about to enter one of the most brutal competitions of their lives.

Mike stood near the back, his fists clenched as he listened to the low murmurs of the other recruits. He had spent the past week under Lily’s brutal training—his muscles ached, his reflexes had improved, and his instincts were sharper. But would it be enough?

A loud voice cut through the noise.

"Welcome to the Shuffle Selection!" a towering man in a black coat announced. His voice carried over the crowd with authority. "This is where we separate the weak from the strong, the useless from the worthy!"

The room fell silent.

"In this competition, you will hunt, fight, and survive. Your goal is to accumulate as many points as possible by eliminating both animals and other participants. The ones with the highest points by the end will be rewarded. The rest…" He grinned. "Will either be dead or permanently crippled."

Mike swallowed hard.

The rules were simple:

Every participant started with zero points.

Killing beasts in the forest would grant 1-10 points, depending on their rank.

Defeating a fellow participant would steal half their points.

Killing a participant granted all their points.

And only the top fifty survivors would make it out.

The Rivals Appear

As the announcer continued, Mike took a deep breath, his eyes scanning the competition. He needed to identify the strongest threats if he wanted to survive.

That’s when he spotted them.

Ares "The Bloodhound" (Male)

A lean man with dark-red hair and piercing golden eyes. A former underground fighter with a brutal brawler style. His ability, "Predator's Instinct," let him sense fear and weakness in his opponents, making it nearly impossible to hide from him.

Hector "Steel Jaw" (Male)

A massive brute with a steel-plated mask covering his lower face. He was rumored to have bone density as strong as metal, and his ability, "Titan's Endurance," allowed him to withstand nearly any attack without flinching.

Felix "Phantom Stride" (Male)

A slender, quiet man in a dark cloak. His ability, "Shadow Phase," gave him momentary invisibility when moving, making his assassinations swift and undetectable.

Ivan "Thunderclap" (Male)

A muscular brawler covered in scars, known for his explosive speed. His ability, "Flash Impact," allowed him to unleash rapid attacks at lightning speed, overwhelming his foes in seconds.

Koji "Bladewind" (Male)

A katana-wielding warrior with an eerie calmness. His ability, "Gale Slash," let his sword strikes cut through the air, extending their reach and making dodging almost impossible.

Luther "The Reaper" (Male)

A tall, hooded man who carried twin sickles. His ability, "Silent Harvest," dulled sound around him, allowing him to move and strike in total silence.

Gareth "The Juggernaut" (Male)

A towering man with brute strength. His ability, "Unyielding Force," let him become unstoppable for a short time, allowing him to bulldoze through any defense.

Selene "The Huntress" (Female)

A skilled archer with deadly precision. Her ability, "Eagle's Eye," enhanced her vision and allowed her to predict movements before they happened.

Vira "Venom Dancer" (Female)

A nimble fighter with poison-tipped daggers. Her ability, "Toxic Veil," created a thin poison mist around her that weakened anyone who got too close.

Rosa "Crimson Tempest" (Female)

A dual-wielding swordmaster with a fiery spirit. Her ability, "Blazing Edge," let her blades ignite with fire, increasing their cutting power and causing burn damage on impact.

Mike felt his stomach tighten. Each of them had deadly abilities. Some were already feared within the gang. These were not people he wanted to face alone.

"Let the Shuffle Selection begin!" the announcer declared.

The walls suddenly slid open, revealing the massive hunting grounds beyond—a vast, dense forest filled with lurking beasts and the dangers of man.

A deafening clang of metal rang out, signaling the start of the bloodbath.

The Hunt Begins

Mike barely had time to react before the hundreds of participants surged forward, each desperate to claim the first kill. He took a deep breath and sprinted into the forest, staying low to the ground.

Lily's words echoed in his mind: "Don't engage right away. Survive first."

The trees around him rustled as shadows darted through the foliage. He heard the first screams—someone had already fallen prey. Ares had found his first victim.

A sudden snarl caught Mike’s attention. A massive, wolf-like creature with glowing red eyes lunged from the bushes. A Rank-2 Shadow Fang.

Mike rolled to the side, barely avoiding the beast’s sharp claws. Now was his chance to test his training.

The Shadow Fang lunged again, its fangs bared. Mike waited… then dodged at the last second, his fist crashing into its ribcage. A crunch. The beast howled in pain but didn’t go down.

Mike clenched his fists.

This was just the beginning.

The true battle was yet to come.

Sneak Peek of Chapter 7: A Deadly Encounter

As Mike caught his breath, he felt something—or someone—watching him.

The trees rustled. A low chuckle echoed through the shadows.

"You’re slow," a voice sneered.

Mike turned sharply, his fists raised.

It was Ares.

And he wasn’t alone.

Next time: Mike’s first battle against a true predator begins!

Author’s Note: